This book was a bit hard to rate for me, on one hand, the portrayal of a craft beer bar and Kat's deep appreciation (bordering on obsession) for craft beer was a unique plot line that I had never read before.
I really appreciated Stephanie Jayne's meticulous research into brewing and the culture surrounding craft beer as it was obvious she put time and effort into this, therefore The Resistance pub felt like a very comforting setting for a romance novel.

However, on the other hand the romantic aspect unfortunately left me wanting more. While the setting and Kat's love for craft beer added a uniqueness to the story, the romance between Kat and Ryan felt lacking in chemistry. Ryan, as a character, didn't quite resonate with me, and the dynamic between him and Kat failed to spark the emotional connection I love to see in a romance novel. Their connection seemed fleeting, and the depth required for a lasting romance was missing.

Despite my reservations about the romantic element, I can't deny the warmth and familiarity that emanated from the craft beer culture within the pages. Stephanie Jayne's portrayal of the brewing world felt authentic and inviting, creating an atmosphere that craft beer enthusiasts will undoubtedly appreciate.

The title and book cover grabbed my attention, but this wasn't my favorite. The descriptions of the beer and brewery industry were done well, but this book is listed as a rom com and did not deliver on this. It lacked in this area.

I was very intrigued by the blurb and title.

The beer and industry was so well written.

However this was described as an enemy to lover romance but I did not really feel it.

There were the typical hotheaded discussions that change to chemistry but it was more uncomfortable and angry than enemies to lovers. They just don't see eye to eye.

They separate ways where Kat finds the brewery which is where I think it should have ended.

Ryan was not likable which made the story not working for me.

The writing however was very good so I will be reading other books by this author.

This book was cute and an easy read but I felt like it was lacking something. It didn't feel exciting and I felt like there was parts of the story that was missing.
The book had a lot of miscommunication which had me rolling my eyes more often than not. It felt like there was too much miscommunication for the main characters to have any type of romance. It seemed as though they didn't really have any chemistry between Ryan and Kat.
It was a nice read and was easy to get through but there was parts where I struggled.

I really enjoyed this story! It’s a version of enemies-to-lovers, but I think it’s more complex than usual—Kat and Ryan have to struggle through some difficult differences before they can actually start to like each other. Sweet and interesting (and closed-door).

Started slow but actually really strong ending. Complete feel good book and I enjoyed it much more than I thought I was going to.

this was a standard romance, good in places, lacking in others. I loved the premise of the story but the execution was lacking.

I wanted to love this book. I loved how well researched it was about different beers and practices. However, I felt there was no chemistry what so ever with Ryan and Kat. To be honest, just seemed like a brother sister relationship. the story/premise had so much potential but fell flat.

3.5⭐ rounded up
This was cute, appealed to my love of beer, and I love the cover. It was billed as a enemies to lovers romcom but it really was more of Kat’s journey to finding herself, her passion, and going for what she wants. The romance was there but I struggled to feel the chemistry. I felt like the FMC was well developed, but the MMC seemed flat. It was very closed door. I don’t usually mind closed door but maybe a little more spice would’ve amped up the chemistry. I loved all the beer chapter headings and the brewery setting felt very authentic.
Thanks to Netgalley for the ARC, opinions are mine alone.

I’m in the beer industry and so the title immediately caught my eye. I realized that this is a narrative that hasn’t been covered. I would have liked the main character to have done some home brewing, made some off flavors while helping out, or anything along with taking classes. Formal training is good but that love can also come from home brewer. She could have been part of a club that cheered her on. Made some mistakes to learn from. I enjoyed the romance set up as well.

Kat Malone finds a new job and a new passion in the craft brewing industry but it doesn't all goes as planned when the son of the owner has his own ideas of what should be done with the brewery.

This was definitely a slow burn type of read, with not a whole lot of substance but it was a little entertaining and the characters worked well within the story. Quite easy and quick to read and a bit of fun between the more intense books I have read which is good. Overall a bit of fun but a bit slow.

Thank you NetGalley and Alcove Press for giving me the opportunity to read and review this book.

Thank you to NetGalley and the publishers for the advanced copy in exchange for an honest review.

✦ Enemies to lovers

Trigger warnings: Cancer, alcohol

Very slow start so it took a while for me to get into the story.
I’m just left wanting more with this book. The characters feel kind of bland, I guess? The chemistry isn’t really hitting for me either.

I do like the beer theme of the book. That’s very fun and unique but that’s about it, sadly.

I've Got My Mind Set on Brew made me feel conflicted. On one hand, as a woman who loves her some craft beer, I liked the setting of a craft beer bar and Kat's (the FMC) appreciation (bordering obsession) with craft beer. I could tell that Stephanie Jayne did her homework about brewing and craft beer culture. The Resistance pub felt like home to me and made me very nostalgic for the Midwest.

On the other hand, as a romance reader, I did not really think the romance aspect worked as well. I did not like Ryan as a character and I didn't think he and Kat had much chemistry. Sometimes, after reading a romance novel, I wonder if the main characters are a "right now" couple that works in that moment but, if they were real, would breakup later on, or if they're a "forever" couple that would stay together forever. Unfortunately, I never felt like Ryan and Kat were a forever couple.

Thank you to NetGalley and Alcove Press for the ebook ARC. All opinions are mine alone.

As a fan of beer and having an interest in the brewing process, I was really excited to read this book.
I was impressed by all the beer/brewing knowledge and analogies. I loved the idea of Kat wanting to 'marry the beer' and the concept of matching the characters to different types of beer was a fun way to give the reader insight into their personalities.
The plot progressed steadily throughout - no unexpected twists but I found this had me feeling more involved with the main characters - wild child Kat and her boss/love interest Ryan.
Both Kat and Ryan having slightly dysfunction family situations and having them finally making peace with this and overcoming their issues gave a heartfelt and hopeful message to the reader.
I found this book to be a comforting and pleasant read and I appreciated the research the author had clearly put in about the beer/craft brewing scene.

I've Got My Mind Set on Brew is a title that immediately caught my interest. While I adored the beginning beer descriptions for the chapters, I didn't adore the other parts of the book. I found the chemistry between both characters to be lacking and the "will they or won't they" aspect to be long drawn out. I will pick up another book by Stephanie Jayne but this one wasn't my favorite cup of "brew".

Enemies to lovers, boss/employee, rom com for beer lovers! If you love beer you will enjoy this woman led *beermance* story! Kat is relatable beer brewer and book lover that many will connect with!

3 ⭐️

In this workplace romantic comedy, we follow Kat Malone, a struggling craft beer brewer, who faces financial hardships after losing her job and enduring a painful breakup. However, she stumbles upon an unexpected opportunity to start a new career in the craft beer brewing industry.

When the brewpub undergoes a change in ownership, Kat's new boss is Ryan, a guy with limited experience and a desire to transform the unique Resistance brewpub into a run-of-the-mill sports bar. What complicates matters further is Ryan's refusal to honor the job commitment previously made to Kat, denying her the role of brewer's assistant.

Amidst initial clashes between Kat and Ryan, they are both confronted with the harsh reality of Resistance's dire financial situation, which necessitates significant changes for its survival. As they are compelled to work together, Kat begins to see a different side of Ryan, realizing he might be the missing ingredient in her life.

Just as Ryan offers Kat a genuine partnership, despite his father's objections, Kat is presented with a life-altering opportunity. Her lifelong aspiration has always revolved around "marrying the beer," but can she craft a life that allows her to have it all?

I found the characters engaging, and the story, spanning 26 chapters, is skillfully written.

However, what left me somewhat dissatisfied was the timing of a major breakup towards the end of the book, and the absence of a heartfelt reconciliation that, in my opinion, could have added more emotional intensity. I longed for a deeper resolution, and I felt that the ending was somewhat hurried.

This one didn't do it for me - I think I just didn't jive with the two main characters (they both annoyed me lol). Maybe a little more spice would have made it more fun or believable that these two people could stand each other.

First, I want to thank Netgalley for this copy.
The cover made me intrested to read this book. I love me some cute covers.
And this was a cute book. I enjoyed read it .

3.5 stars for me.

Thank you netgalley for the chance to read this!
I really enjoyed the setting of this book. I'm a New Jersey girl where breweries have become really popular, so to me this setting was right up my alley. I also really enjoyed the chapter setup, and liked reading what 'beer' each chapter was set as and trying to find the correlation between the story and the beer.
Kat is dying to become a head brewmaster at a brewery that is quickly undergoing a change in ownership. Ryan is a wealthy son of the brewery's new investor, and Kat's new boss. There is a bit of misogyny that comes into this as they navigate attraction, women in the workplace, and growing a business beyond your own expectations.
I really enjoyed the sections that dealt specifically with how to run a brewery. The ideas Ryan/Kat came up with were really neat. But their relationship left alot to be desired. I wanted more? More chemistry, more romance (this was mostly closed-door, which I don't mind but I think would have amped this story up), just MORE. I also thought the ending of the story was a bit abrupt: I genuinely thought my book cut off.
Don't get me wrong: the pieces I liked made this book an easy 3 stars. But I think the premise could have easily been 5.